What to do in NYC?

I apologize if this thread is too off-topic (if it is I'm sure the moderators will move it for me).

I will be in NYC for the next week (8-14th). I had been planning on moving to NYC and this trip was going to be for looking at places to live, but it was near impossible to find a job there (I took one in my home state of Ohio) so now I'm there for a week with no itinerary.

What are some good style related things to do while I'm there? FWIW I'm 23, just finishing up a masters in economics so I'm not gonna be "dropping mad dough" but if there are good deals to be had, I could splurge.

P.S. this will probably turn into one of those BS threads where everyones here shows how clever they can be, but it's worth a shot.

I'm sure the natives can give you better advice, but NYC is my favorite place to visit on the planet earth. you might do a search of the forum for "NYC" or "new york" for lots of ideas.

Myself, I make it a point to visit Barneys (esp the coop floor) and Bergdorf Mens, just to see what's new and cool. I also love the restaurants and central park (zoo, boathouse, tavern on the green restaurant)-- if you're meeting a chick there, I thought Max Brenner's restaurant (and picking up a box of chocolates while you're there) was lots of fun (deserts mandatory!!). If I were going back there today for a few days, I'd do the following:

Metropolitian Museum of Art, greek/ roman gallery area and coffee or a drink on the terrace overlooking the city.

Natural History Museum for an hour or two

dinner at 21 club and a broadway show (some say it's just an old outdated restaurant, but I like the food and the 1930s elegance of the 21 club. old fashioned service, a bathroom attendant, and the murals on the wall of the restaurant upstairs are my kind of time)

Check out one of the fine tailors here and get some clothes. I agree on the Nat. History museum, that has always been my favorite museum in the city. There is always the "drink heavily" option. The weather is getting warmer this weekend so you are in luck.

Foxx is spot on. I'm a native more or less, and those are still my favs. If you absolutely must go to Times Square, try to go early on a Sunday to avoid the crush of the filthy dirty tourists. Also check out the east and west village and soho. Bring your walking shoes!

Cheap shopping: Century 21, Filene's, Daffy's. The restaurant at MOMA is far better than the one at the Met (not cheap, though). Both museums are phenomenal. Half-price Broadway tix at the TKTS booth in Times Square. Cheap food: banh mi at Saigon Banh Mi on Mott St in Chinatown (best sandwich in the world, about $3.50, carry-out only), soup dumplings and scallion pancakes at New Green Bo in Chinatown. Pastrami sandwiches and matzoh ball soup at Katz's. If you don't have a hotel yet, very nice 4* hotels in Midtown East are going for an unheard of $105-$130 per night on Priceline right now. Here's another thread:http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=36791

I like to start at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 5th Ave (sorry Natural History to me is if you see one stuff elephant you've seen them all). but at the Met do NOT miss the Temple of Dendur...the setting alone is one of a kind and as previously noted the new Greek/Roman exhibit hall is inspiring. and just wonder about unless you have any specific specialties you like.

The Frick Collection is small, intimate and fantastic. Of course, tons other museums in town but the smaller ones are great (I think the Puerto Rican Museum has an exceptional Taino collection)

Anyways, then wander south on 5 Ave stopping at all the shops and don't forget to hit all the fancy hotels you see on the side streets and have a drink at the bar (stopping would include the smaller churches btw). If you can, detour 57th St. nice stores to look around.

Check out St Patricks Cathedral, and Rockefeller Ctr. Go to the Top of the Rock for the best city view (they have a sunrise tour !!). then head west from there until Broadway and then head south til 42nd Street.

For restaurants, Tao is really cool at least to look....it's Asian and $$$. But there is no lack of restaurants. The Meat Packing District is very trendy now with clubs, lounges and restaurans (around 9/10 Aves and 14th Street).

Further downtown, you have the West Village, SoHo and NoLIta sections plus China Town and Canal Street...all in relative walking distance if you are fit, in the mood and weather is helping.

Outside Manhattan, I can think of the Cloisters (look it up..it's an offshoot of the Met)..plus upstate you have some really wonderful historic mansions in the Hudson Valley like Lyndhurst, Boscobel, Wilderstein, and Olana. Plus you get to see some beautiful imagery. Cape May, NJ has some beautiful Victorian homes and Atlantic City is not far away (not my thing and rather depressing area really but casinos). Lambertville NJ & New Hope PA is a charming area (River Horse beer brewery is located there and worth a visit).

Take the Staten Island Ferry to Staten Island and back -- free view of the Statue of Liberty. Take the IKEA ferry to Red Hook and back -- free view of the Brooklyn waterfront and cheap meatballs. Get Orchestra or Family Circle standing room tix at the Metropolitan Opera (10am day of Show). Friday the 13th is Il Trovatore. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and get a pie at Grimaldis. Go to J. Press. Oh, and the Cloisters are in Manhattan. And Tao is awful.

- Rooftop @ 230 Fifth on 5th ave and 27th st. (Probably the best spot in NYC on a nice night, usually no cover)
- Rooftop @ Hotel Gaansevoort in the Meat Market (9 ave & 15th st.): Real easy to pick up chicks here. Usually no cover.
- Just hang out around the meat market after 11pm and do some scoping. Expect to see many models. (Beware most clubs here are ultra picky and won't let guys in alone after 11pm).
- Mansion club on 28th st. (Largest club in NYC now?, high cover up to $35)
- Fat Black Pussy Cat & The Underground on 3rd st. (Great NYU college crowd goes here, cover up to $20)
- Avalon club (crowd kinda sucks now, but the beauty of the church is worth it to see to relive the limelight days) @ 47 W 20th st. Expect a cover up to $35.
- Do dinner & clubbing at Iguana's on 54th st. & broadway. No cover, food is ok. Good way to burn a night.
- The View: 47th st & 7th ave in Times Square on the top of the Marriot Marquis. Has a rotating floor w/ view of all of manhattan. Beware there's a $7 cover after 9pm. Don't expect to pickup chicks here, but best date spot in NYC.

Man, this list is basically my social night life. You might run into me this weekend if you follow this...

Can't help to add this since I've been showing tourists around NYC for 20 yrs:
- Go to the Museum of Natural History. Spend the day talking to random people. Most are very friendly. Check out the incredible rose center within and catch the planetarium show.
- Go to TKTS in Times Square (at 11am), and get some half price theater tickets. Try to see some off-broadways shows since they can be great too.
- If you come into NJ, come to the redesigned Liberty Science Center and check out the IMAX (best if have kids or date with you though). You can also view the statue of liberty from here.
- Buy a Hilarious Bolex watch on Mott st. in Chinatown

- Rooftop @ 230 Fifth on 5th ave and 27th st. (Probably the best spot in NYC on a nice night, usually no cover)
- Rooftop @ Hotel Gaansevoort in the Meat Market (9 ave & 15th st.): Real easy to pick up chicks here. Usually no cover.
- Just hang out around the meat market after 11pm and do some scoping. Expect to see many models. (Beware most clubs here are ultra picky and won't let guys in alone after 11pm).
- Mansion club on 28th st. (Largest club in NYC now?, high cover up to $35)
- Fat Black Pussy Cat & The Underground on 3rd st. (Great NYU college crowd goes here, cover up to $20)
- Avalon club (crowd kinda sucks now, but the beauty of the church is worth it to see to relive the limelight days) @ 47 W 20th st. Expect a cover up to $35.
- Do dinner & clubbing at Iguana's on 54th st. & broadway. No cover, food is ok. Good way to burn a night.
- The View: 47th st & 7th ave in Times Square on the top of the Marriot Marquis. Has a rotating floor w/ view of all of manhattan. Beware there's a $7 cover after 9pm. Don't expect to pickup chicks here, but best date spot in NYC.

Do not follow any of these recommendations those bars are uniformly horrible.